Device and method for rapid deployment of snow shelters

ABSTRACT

A device and method for rapid deployment of snow shelters are disclosed forthwith. The device includes an elongated sleeve with an open end and a closed end with an optional weight compartment preferably disposed of at the closed end. 
     The device is quickly inflated by use of wind or movement of the user, closed to form a cylindrical tube and then covered in snow. An opening in the snow is dug out and the device is deflated. Once the device is removed from the snow cover, the inner space where the device was becomes a snow shelter capable of insulating the user from the harsh environment outside the shelter.

REFERENCE TO CROSS-RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/179,388, filed on May 19, 2009, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to devices for building of snow shelters, more particularly, to devices for rapid deployment of snow shelters.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Snow shelters are used to protect people such as back country hunters, cross country skiers, mountain climbers and downed pilots from the harsh environment and below freezing temperatures associated with snowy conditions. Exposure to very low temperatures combined with high winds cause hypothermia within a short time.

Inside a snow cave or a snow trench the temperature is kept at a steady level of zero degrees centigrade due to the isolating properties of the snow, even when the temperature outside the snow cave is minus 30 degrees centigrade. A human's body heat or a small candle can heat the inside of the snow cave to a relatively comfortable temperature.

Building a snow cave is a long and hard process involving lying in the snow and digging to form the cave. This process usually ends up with the digger's clothes getting soaked with water, which is very dangerous in freezing temperatures.

Inflatable devices used for building snow shelters, such as quinzees, are known in the prior art. An inflatable device is inflated, typically to the full device volume and then sealed, typically by a valve. Snow is then piled over and around the inflatable device. As the snow structure embracing the inflatable device hardens, the valve is exposed out of the snow and then opened; the inflatable device is deflated and pulled out of the snow structure which can then be used as a snow shelter.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,522,181, of Ellsworth, which is incorporated by reference for all purposes as if fully set forth herein, discloses an apparatus for fabricating igloo and like structures, including an inflatable form of a flexible air-impervious plastic having a base component, a roof component, and cylindrically shaped side walls with associated valve to inflate and deflate the form. The apparatus was developed for the purpose of the deploying of igloos more efficiently, conveniently and quickly through an inflatable form and a pump.

However, devices such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,522,181, of Ellsworth require the use of air blowers or having a person blow into the relatively large inflatable device. Effective air blowers are typically heavy and smaller air blowers are usually inefficient and require a long time to inflate the inflatable device. This is particularly important in survival situations where the survivor has little time to find shelter. Mouth air blowing is also time-consuming, as well as difficult to perform in cold weather and survival situations.

Therefore, there is a need and it would be advantageous to have an inflatable device for rapid deployment of a snow shelter, including rapid inflating of the inflatable device, without a need for an air blower.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The background art does not teach or suggest an inflatable device for a rapid deployment of a snow shelter, including rapid inflating of the inflatable device, without a need for an air blower.

The present invention overcomes these deficiencies of the background art by providing an inflatable device for rapid deployment of a snow shelter without a need for an air blower and a method for deploying the snow shelter.

An embodiment of the present invention is described herein below in which an inflatable device includes an elongated sleeve, preferably a weight compartment and optionally a valve. The elongated sleeve includes a closed end and an open end, wherein the weight compartment is typically disposed at the closed end of the elongated sleeve. The valve is used to add or remove air from the inflatable device. In the case where the user is injured and cannot stand up in order to wave the inflatable device, the valve can be used to blow air into the inflatable device using a pump, compressed air tank, the user's mouth etc. The open end is preferably a wide opening, typically, as wide as the dimensions of the elongated sleeve.

One of several possible methods, of inflating the inflatable device for rapid deployment of a snow shelter and rapid deployment of a snow shelter, according to the present invention, includes the following stages:

a) grabbing the edges of the open end of the elongated sleeve, preferably by two hands at opposing locations on the edges of the open end;

b) taking some steps while swinging the elongated sleeve, wherein the open end moves away from the body of the elongated sleeve. As a result of the swinging of the elongated sleeve, air flows into the elongated sleeve. Since the closed end is sealed, the in flowing air is trapped inside the elongated sleeve and thereby, inflates the elongated sleeve;

c) twisting and folding the open end of the elongated sleeve, thereby sealing the open end, and thereby tightly trapping the air inside the elongated sleeve;

d) preferably tying the folded open end of the elongated sleeve;

e) filling the weight compartment, typically with snow, to stabilize the inflated inflatable device when laid alone on the ground, such that the inflated inflatable device resist wind forces, and other external forces;

f) placing the inflated inflatable device at a location where the snow shelter is to be built;

g) piling snow over and around the inflated inflatable device, thereby covering the inflated inflatable device with a thick layer of snow;

h) allowing thick layer of snow covering the inflated inflatable device to harden for several minutes;

i) digging an opening in the hardened snow covering, preferably towards the folded end of the elongated sleeve;

j) untying and unfolding the folded end of the elongated sleeve, thereby deflating the inflatable device for rapid deployment of a snow shelter;

k) pulling out the deflated inflatable device through the opening in the hardened snow covering, the opening being the entrance of the now ready to use snow shelter; and

Optionally, the pulled out deflated inflatable device is used to enclose/seal the entrance to the snow shelter.

An aspect of the present invention is to provide an inflatable device having an insulating layer, such as an aluminized based layer. Thereby, when in use, the aluminum reflects back the heat radiated from the user to keep up his/her warmth. The present invention is not limited to an aluminum coating and any other flexible heat reflecting coating can be used. Optionally, the pulled out deflated inflatable device, having a layer of an insulating material, is used as a thermal/emergency blanket.

The insulating layer can be external or internal to the inflatable device; likewise the inflatable device can have two insulated layers, one internal and one external.

According to the teaching of the present invention there is provided an inflatable device for rapid deployment of snow shelters, the inflatable device includes: (a) an elongated sleeve, the elongated sleeve having an open end and a closed end;

According to the teaching of the present invention the inflatable device further includes: (b) a weight compartment, disposed on the elongated sleeve at the closed end, wherein the weight compartment has at least one weight compartment opening.

According to the teaching of the present invention the elongated sleeve has an inflatable device inner surface coated with a thermal isolator layer.

According to another features of the present invention the elongated sleeve has an inflatable device outer surface coated with a thermal isolator layer.

According to another features of the present invention the elongated sleeve has an inflatable device inner surface coated with a thermal isolator layer and an inflatable device outer surface coated with a thermal isolator layer.

According to the teaching of the present invention the inflatable device further includes: (c) a valve disposed on the elongated sleeve.

According to the teaching of the present invention the inflatable device has a folded state, a spread out state, an inflated state, and a sealed state.

According to the teaching of the present invention there is provided a method of rapid deployment of snow shelters, the method includes the stages of: (a) filling an inflatable device with air wherein the stage of filling an inflatable device with air includes the sub stage of: (i) grabbing edges of an open end of an elongated sleeve; (b) twisting and folding the open end of the elongated sleeve; (c) placing the inflated inflatable device at a location where the snow shelter is to be built; and (d) piling snow over and around the inflated inflatable device.

According to the teaching of the present invention the method of rapid deployment of snow shelters further includes the stages of: (e) allowing thick layer of snow covering the inflated inflatable device to harden; (f) digging an opening in the hardened snow covering; (g) deflating the inflatable device; and (h) pulling out the deflated inflatable device through an opening in the hardened snow covering.

According to the teaching of the present invention the method of rapid deployment of snow shelters further includes the stages of: (i) closing an entrance to the snow shelter by using the deflated inflatable device.

According to the teaching of the present invention the stage of twisting and folding the open end of the elongated sleeve includes the sub stage of: (i) tying the folded open end of the elongated sleeve.

According to the teaching of the present invention the stage of placing the inflated inflatable device at a location wherein the snow shelter is to be built includes the sub stage of: (i) filling a weight compartment of the inflatable device with snow.

According to another features of the present invention, the method of rapid deployment of snow shelters further comprises the stage of placing at least one more inflated inflatable device adjacent to the inflated inflatable device wherein the stage is performed before the piling snow over and around the inflated inflatable device stage.

The at least one more inflatable device may be placed alongside the first inflatable device forming a wider shelter or in series, forming an elongated shelter. The cylindrical structure provides two main advantages:

1) Structural strength, allowing extra weight to be added on top of the shelter without collapsing (for example; during a snow storm, more snow would fall on top of the shelter).

2) The size of the shelter can be controlled by the amount of air blown into the inflatable device, thereby creating a smaller space which requires less energy for heating.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 a is a top view of a folded inflatable device for rapid deployment of a snow shelter, according to the present invention.

FIG. 1 b is a top perspective view of an inflatable device for rapid deployment of a snow shelter, according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view illustration of the stage of inflating the inflatable device, according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a top perspective view illustration of the stage of folding the open end of the inflatable device, thereby trapping the air inside the inflatable device, according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a top perspective view illustration of the stage of locking the folded end of the inflatable device, thereby locking the air inside the inflatable device, according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a top perspective view illustration of the stage of tying the inflatable device for the deployment of a snow shelter, according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a top perspective view illustration of the stage of filling the weight compartment of the inflatable device, according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a top perspective view illustration of the stage of covering the inflated inflatable device, the covering being in an intermediate state, according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a top perspective view illustration of the stage of covering the inflated inflatable device, the covering being almost complete, but still in an intermediate state, according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a top perspective view illustration of the stage of digging an opening towards the inflated inflatable device, according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a top perspective view illustration of the stage of pulling out, through the opening, of the deflated inflatable device upon which a section plane a-a is marked, according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view a-a of the formed snow shelter, according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a flow chart schematically illustrating a method for rapid deployment of a snow shelter, according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is of a device and method for rapid deployment of snow shelters.

The principles and operation of a device and method for rapid deployment of snow shelters according to the present invention may be better understood with reference to the drawings and the accompanying description.

Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. The materials, dimensions, methods, and examples provided herein are illustrative only and are not intended to be limiting.

The following list is a legend of the numbering of the application illustrations:

15 inward direction

20 hand

25 outward direction

30 shovel

40 cable binder

50 snow

52 snow shelter

100 inflatable device

110 elongated sleeve

112 open end

114 closed end

115 twisting direction

116 folded end

120 weight compartment

122 weight compartment opening

130 valve

154 snow shelter opening

160 inflatable device inner surface coated with thermal isolator layer

162 inflatable device outer surface coated with thermal isolator layer

170 snow shelter inner space

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 a is a top view of a folded inflatable device 100 for rapid deployment of a snow shelter, according to the present invention.

In its folded state, the inflatable device 100 takes very little space and weight which is beneficial for backpackers and survivalists who try to limit the overall weight of their gear. The inflatable device 100 also includes an elongated sleeve 110, which, in the configuration shown in the present illustration, is externally coated with a thermal insulation layer. Likewise, the inflatable device 100 shown in the present illustration also includes a valve 130.

FIG. 1 b is a top perspective view of an inflatable device for rapid deployment of a snow shelter, according to the present invention.

The Inflatable device 100 is shown in the present illustration in a spread out state.

Inflatable device 100 includes elongated sleeve 110, weight compartment 120 and optionally, valve 130. Elongated sleeve 110 includes closed end 114 and open end 112, wherein weight compartment 120 is typically disposed at the closed end 114 of elongated sleeve 110 and it includes one or more weight compartment openings 122. Optional valve 130 is used to add or remove air from inflatable device 100. Open end 112 is preferably a wide opening, typically, as wide as the dimensions of elongated sleeve 110.

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view illustration of the stage of inflating the inflatable device 100, according to the present invention.

The inflatable device 100 is shown in the present illustration in an inflated state.

A person grabs the open end 112 of elongated sleeve 110, preferably with both hands 20, and generally at opposing locations on the edges of open end 112. The person then swings elongated sleeve 110 in an outward direction 25, thereby creating a flow of air, in inward direction 15, through open end 112 and into elongated sleeve 110. The swinging direction is such that open end 112 moves away from the closed end 114 of elongated sleeve 110. Since closed end 114 is closed, the air inside elongated sleeve 110 is trapped inside the elongated sleeve 110, thus inflating it. It should be noted, that if wind is blowing, the swinging direction should be against the wind direction. It should be further noted, that to enhance the swinging of inflatable device 100 when there is little or no wind, the person may take a few steps while swinging.

If the force of the wind is sufficient, there is no need for any swinging motion.

FIG. 3 is a top perspective view illustration of the stage of folding the open end 112 of the inflatable device 100, thereby trapping the air inside the inflatable device 100, according to the present invention.

The inflatable device 100 is shown in the present illustration in a sealed state.

When elongated sleeve 110 is in an inflated state, the person closes and seals the open end 112. For example, the person may twist the margin of elongated sleeve 110 proximal to the edged of open end 112, with respect to the rest of elongated sleeve 110, for example in twisting direction 115. Thereby, open end 112 is sealed closed and the air inside elongated sleeve 110 is tightly trapped.

The size of the resultant snow shelter 52 is controlled by the amount of air filling the elongated sleeve 110. Tightening of the open end 112 and compressing the air inside the inflatable device 100 forms a solid cylindrical shape which helps in forming a well shaped snow shelter 52.

Preferably, inflatable device 100 is made of thin, flexible, tear resistant and light weight materials, such as nylon. Furthermore, inflatable device 100 is made of material strong enough to withstand the pressure formed by the piling of snow 50 onto inflatable device 100.

FIG. 4 is a top perspective view illustration of the stage of locking the folded end 116 of the inflatable device 100, thereby locking the air inside the inflatable device 100, according to the present invention.

In FIG. 4, folded end 116 is further folded towards the inflated elongated sleeve 110 to be tied later.

FIG. 5 is a top perspective view illustration of the stage of tying the inflatable device for the deployment of a snow shelter, according to the present invention.

In FIG. 5, folded end 116 is securely tied by a cable binder 40. The tying means can also be an elastic band or any other suitable means.

FIG. 6 is a top perspective view illustration of the stage of filling the weight compartment 120 of the inflatable device 100, according to the present invention.

In order stabilize the inflated inflatable device 100, inflatable device 100 preferably includes weight compartment 120 which is equipped with one or more weight compartment openings 122. For example, the weight compartment 120 can be filled with snow 50 by using a shovel 30. The snow 50 is put inside the weight compartment 120 through the one or more weight compartment openings 122.

For the sake of clarity, weight compartment 120 can be filled with any other material. It should be further noted that weight compartment 120 is optional, and inflatable device 100 can be affixed to the ground or surrounding snow by other means such as ropes and pegs.

Inflatable device 100 is placed at a location where the snow shelter is to be built, whereas filed weight compartment 120 keeps inflatable device 100 from moving while snow is piled over and around inflatable device 100, resisting wind forces, and other external forces.

FIG. 7 is a top perspective view illustration of the stage of covering the inflated inflatable device 100, the covering being in an intermediate state, according to the present invention.

In FIG. 7, the inflated inflatable device 100 is placed at a location where the snow shelter 52 is being built.

The location can also be a shallow trench dug especially for this purpose.

The covering over the inflatable device 100 is about half finished.

FIG. 8 is a top perspective view illustration of the stage of covering the inflated inflatable device 100, the covering being almost complete, but still in an intermediate state, according to the present invention.

Once the covering of inflated inflatable device 100 by snow is completed, the covered snow is left a few minutes to solidify .

Prior to solidification of the snow, it can be packed tightly.

After the covering snow is hardened, an opening is dug towards folded end 116 or towards closed end 114 (not shown in the present illustration), of elongated sleeve 110 preferably using a shovel 30.

FIG. 9 is a top perspective view illustration of the stage of digging an opening towards the inflated inflatable device 100, according to the present invention.

A shovel 30 is preferably used to dig a snow shelter opening 154 in the hardened snow at one end of the unfinished snow shelter 52 towards the inflated inflatable device 100. In case folded end 116 (not shown in the present illustration) of elongated sleeve 110 is reached, folded end 116 is untied and unfolded, and thereby inflatable device 100 is deflated. Another case is that the closed end 114 is reached. In this case, the valve 130 (not shown in the present illustration), is opened and the inflatable device 100 is deflated through the valve 130. Once deflated, the deflated inflatable device 100 is pulled out through snow shelter opening 154.

FIG. 10 is a top perspective view illustration of the stage of pulling out, through the opening, the deflated inflatable device 100 upon which a section plane a-a is marked, according to the present invention.

The present illustration shows hands 20 pulling an inflatable device 100 from within snow shelter 52 through a snow shelter opening 154, while they are holding closed end 114.

FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view a-a of the formed snow shelter 52, according to the present invention.

The snow shelter 52 is formed by the snow 50 surrounding the snow shelter inner space 170, which becomes the protective space. Typically, the dimensions of the snow shelter inner space 170 are predesigned to comfortably accommodate one or more persons.

It should be noted that the thickness of the walls of snow shelter 52 should be large enough to insulate yet not to collapse when expected forces are applied to the walls, typically, with no limitation, larger than 30 cm.

Moreover, the inflatable device inner surface 160 is preferably aluminized. Thereby, the deflated inflatable device 100 can be used as a thermal/emergency blanket, whereas the aluminum reflects back the heat radiated from the user to keep up the user's warmth.

The present illustration shows a magnified detail in circle A, which shows that in the present case, the elongated sleeve 110 includes two layers of thermally isolating material, an inflatable device inner surface coated with thermal isolator layer 160 and an inflatable device outer surface coated with thermal isolator layer 162.

A snow shelter 52 can also be constructed using two or more inflatable devices 100, positioned in immediate proximity to each other.

FIG. 12 is a flow chart schematically illustrating a method for rapid deployment of a snow shelter 52, according to the present invention, the method including the stages of:

Stage 1: filling the inflatable device with air by:

-   -   (i) grabbing the edges of the open end of the elongated sleeve,         preferably by two hands at opposing locations on the edges of         the open end.     -   (ii) taking some steps while swinging the elongated sleeve,         wherein the open end moves away from the closed end of the         elongated sleeve.

Stage 2: twisting and folding the open end of the elongated sleeve.

Stage 3: preferably, tying the folded open end of the elongated sleeve.

Stage 4: optionally, filling the weight compartment.

Stage 5: placing the inflated inflatable device at a location where the snow shelter is to be built.

Stage 6: piling snow over and around the inflated inflatable device, thereby covering the inflated inflatable device with a thick layer of snow.

Stage 7: allowing the thick layer of snow covering the inflated inflatable device to harden.

Stage 8: digging an opening in the hardened snow covering, preferably towards the folded end of the elongated sleeve.

Stage 9: deflating the inflatable device for rapid deployment of a snow shelter.

Stage 10: pulling out the deflated inflatable device through the opening in the hardened snow covering, the opening becoming the entrance of the now ready to use snow shelter.

Stage 11: optionally, closing the entrance to the snow shelter by using the deflated inflatable device.

While the invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, it will be appreciated that many variations, modifications and other applications of the invention may be made. 

1. An inflatable device for rapid deployment of snow shelters, said inflatable device comprising: (a) an elongated sleeve said elongated sleeve has an open end and a closed end.
 2. The inflatable device for rapid deployment of snow shelters, of claim 1 further comprising: (b) a weight compartment, disposed on said elongated sleeve at said closed end, wherein said weight compartment has at least one weight compartment opening.
 3. The inflatable device of claim 2 wherein said elongated sleeve has an inflatable device inner surface coated with a thermal isolator layer.
 4. The inflatable device of claim 2 wherein said elongated sleeve has an inflatable device outer surface coated with a thermal isolator layer.
 5. The inflatable device of claim 2 wherein said elongated sleeve has an inflatable device inner surface coated with a thermal isolator layer and an inflatable device outer surface coated with a thermal isolator layer.
 6. The inflatable device of claim 3 further comprising: (c) a valve disposed on said elongated sleeve.
 7. The inflatable device of claim 4 further comprising: (c) a valve disposed on said elongated sleeve.
 8. The inflatable device of claim 2 wherein said inflatable device has a folded state, a spread out state, an inflated state and a sealed state.
 9. A method of rapid deployment of snow shelters, said method comprises the stages of: (a) filling an inflatable device with air wherein said stage of filling an inflatable device with air includes the sub-stage of: (i) grabbing edges of an open end of an elongated sleeve; (b) twisting and folding said open end of said elongated sleeve; (c) placing said inflated inflatable device at a location where said snow shelter is to be built; and (d) piling snow over and around said inflated inflatable device.
 10. The method of rapid deployment of snow shelters of claim 9, further comprising the stages of: (e) allowing thick layer of snow covering said inflated inflatable device to harden; (f) digging an opening in said hardened snow covering; (g) deflating said inflatable device; and (h) pulling out said deflated inflatable device through an opening in said hardened snow covering.
 11. The method of rapid deployment of snow shelters of claim 10, further comprising the stages of: (i) closing an entrance to said snow shelter by using said deflated inflatable device.
 12. The method of rapid deployment of snow shelters of claim 10, wherein said stage of twisting and folding said open end of said elongated sleeve includes the sub stage of: (i) tying said folded open end of said elongated sleeve.
 13. The method of rapid deployment of snow shelters of claim 10, wherein said stage of placing said inflated inflatable device at a location wherein said snow shelter is to be built includes the sub stage of: (i) filling a weight compartment of said inflatable device with snow.
 14. The method of rapid deployment of snow shelters of claim 10, further comprising the stage of placing at least one more inflated inflatable device adjacent to said inflated inflatable device wherein said stage is performed before the piling snow over and around said inflated inflatable device stage. 